Pancreatic cancer is fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States

July 08, 2008|By Marci Singer News-Review Staff Writer

Few people, other than students, knew Randy Pausch before he delivered his now famous "Last Lecture."

The Carnegie Mellon University professor was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September of 2006. Still fighting for his life, Pausch is doing everything possible to raise awareness for the disease and generate funds for research.

While Pausch is in the fight of his life, many people, including Dr. William McCullough of Petoskey, have lost their lives to the disease. According to Dr. Lisa A. Galloway, a hemotologist/oncologist at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey, carcinoma of the pancreas is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, second only to colorectal cancer as a cause of digestive cancer related death.

"Men are at higher risk for developing pancreatic cancer," Galloway said. "The incidence of pancreatic cancer increases at the age of 50 and peaks in the seventh decade."

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Galloway said the site where the cancer arises determines the symptoms.

"Lesions arising in the head of the pancreas cause obstruction of the common bile duct resulting in jaundice, and pain. Tumors arising in the body or tail of the pancreas are less likely to cause symptoms before metastasis has occurred," she said.

The doctor said individuals with pancreatic cancer may experience pain in the mid to upper back, glucose intolerance, pancreatic insufficiency and weight loss. She added that tumor size, presence of lymph node metastasis and histologic differentiation each has an independent prognostic value and determine the treatment and prognosis.

According to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, pancreatic cancer is one of the few cancers for which survival has not improved substantially over the past 30 years. Galloway said pancreatic cancer is divided into respectable disease (potentially curable), locally advanced disease and metastatic disease.

"Twenty-five percent of patients have regional involvement at the time of diagnosis," she said. "Treatment with combined chemotherapy and radiation has shown improved survival over single modality treatment, however, treatment is considered palliative and is given without curative intent."

The doctor said chemotherapy is offered to patients with a good performance status to 50 percent or more of patients with pancreatic cancer present with metastatic disease.

"One year survival is observed in approximately 24 percent of patients," Galloway said.

While there is no current screening test for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, those with increased risk for the disease include those who smoke cigarettes and have a high fat diet. Galloway said the incidence is decreased in individuals who eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables.

"Recommendations for all individuals are to stop smoking, exercise and follow a healthy diet," she said.

For more information about pancreatic cancer visit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at www.pancan.org or call HealthAccess at (800) 248-6777.

Source: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

• This year, approximately 37,680 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Statistically, 75 percent of them (28,260 people) will die within a year of their diagnosis. Within five years, only 5 percent will still be alive - a mere 1,884 people - and most of these will have a recurrence and eventually succumb to the disease.

• Pancreatic cancer is so lethal because scientific research has not yet advanced to the point where early detection tools or treatments have been identified.

• Currently, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) spends less than 2 percent of their budget on pancreatic cancer research.